Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program

Faculty Lead

From embassy headquarters to nongovernmental organizations, think tanks to advocacy organizations, and consulting firms to media outlets, Washington, DC, is a focal point for many international and public policy activities.

Undergraduates from any course of study who would value firsthand policy experience are invited to apply to the Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program (CMU/WSP), sponsored by the university's Institute for Politics and Strategy. In this semester-long program, students live, work, and study in Washington, DC, coming into direct contact with political, business, and community leaders and learning about the most pressing policy issues of the day.

CMU/WSP students earn 48 units for their semester in Washington, interning three days per week in any sector or field of interest within Washington, DC, while taking classes two days per week and in the evenings. Courses are taught by Carnegie Mellon faculty. The Institute for Politics and Strategy sponsors events and policy oriented opportunities in Washington for students participating in the program to further enrich their experience and enhance their understanding of how Washington functions as a hub of international and public policy decision making.

CMU/WSP students attended a panel entitled "Free Speech and National Security," hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Afterwards, students spoke with panelists Greg Lukianoff, Gabriel Schoenfeld, Jamil N. Jaffer, and WSP faculty members Melanie Marlowe and Tom Karkao.

One of our former CMU/WSP students, Eliza Donohue, was featured in an article published by CMU Volleyball! Eliza talks friends, school, and career in the article so make sure to check it out here.

Town Hall discussion with Dr. Nadia Schadlow, Deputy Director of the National Security Council, moderated by Professor Kiron Skinner, Director of IPS. The event was co-hosted by ISA and Stanford University's Hoover Institution. Attendees included think tank leaders, CMU faculty and affiliates, current CMU/WSP students, and various members of the policy and academic communities in Washington. Find out more here.

CMU/WSP students recently attended a performance of the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center for the Arts.

As part of the fall 2017 CMU/WSP policy forum, students attended a tour and briefing at the Pentagon with FOX News correspondent, Jennifer Griffin.

Students tour the Pentagon as a part of the spring 2017 CMU Washington Semester Program.

Students attended a roundtable with General (ret.) Michael V. Hayden at the Center for Strategic and International Studies as part of the fall 2016 CMU/WSP Policy Forum.